Wig construction employing a base of elastic and inelastic strips

ABSTRACT

A wig base is constructed of C-shaped netting with an elastic strip joining the open tips of the netting to form an elipse with the elastic strip at one end of the major axis of the elipse. A first series of binding strips extend between opposite edges of the netting in parallel planes, each plane being perpendicular to the major axis of the elipse. A second series of binding strips also extend between opposite edges of the netting, intersecting the strips of the first series and lying in planes passing through the major axis of the elipse. Wefts of aligned strands of hair are sewn to the netting and the strips of the base to form a wig. Selected strips or portions thereof of either the first or second series of strips are formed of elastic material.

United States Patent Imre [ Feb.29, 1972 1,413,360 4/1922 Scheanblum 132/54 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene AssistantExaminerGregory E. McNeill [72] Inventor: Julius Imre, New York, NY. Attorney-Po1achek, Saulsbury & Hough [73] Ass1gnee: Imrelon, Inc., New York, NY. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Ffled: May 1970 A wig base is constructed of C-shaped netting with an elastic [21] Appl. No.: 38,828 strip joining the open tips of the netting to form an elipse with the elastic stfrLp a; one end of thei rgzjor axis of the ellipse. Af

irst series 0 in ing strips exten tween opposite e ges o E (51 the netting in parallel planes, each plane being perpendicular 58 i 54 to the major axis of the elipse. A second series of binding strips I l o arc also extend between opposite edges of the netting, intersecting the strips of the first series and lying in planes passing through References cued the major axis of the elipse. Wefts of aligned strands of hair UNITED STATES PATENTS are sewn to the netting and the strips of the base to form a wig. Selected strips or portions thereof of either the first or second 3,307,533 3;: 36; llsiegma Series f Strips are f d f elastic materiaL ,434,4 1 3 6 azzocco..... 1,549,334 8/1925 Ruffio 132/105 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 30 28 26 28 2O 30 1 so 28 2 1 7; r.- z l4 Th 4 I I i l i 1 \i n I l 1 UR 1 i 30 :9 25 I6 l I l l l l I I v l 1 Q x I l f h l I Q 2; I l r 7\ l8 i: I l l I I I T r-g l l I B /7- \\\'.".".i- 32""- ll I L i li F 35 I I '::j 5?, T 7 i I i i e v 5 I "I: 1 II l I 1 l I I i l I i i I 1 L3; 34 f I I I I l 1 I i I I I I l [i in I if I I d 7/ I ls 32 :4, I I I f I rr l' j 24 "\I I I I I l I l I l I l l I I I I I I 34 S: I

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PATENTEDFEB29I972 3,645.279

SHEET 2 0F 2 FRONT TURNE 5 WIG CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYING A BASE OF ELASTIC AND INELASTIC STRIPS In recent years the popularity of wigs has grown rapidly. This is due to the fact that wigs produce certain advantages which were not previously available. For instance, a women need not spend hours at the beauty parlor preparing her hair, but she may leave her wig at the beauty parlor and later don the wig after the same has been styled and set.

Another advantage of the use of wigs is the fact that women may easily and quickly change the color of the hair upon her head by changing wigs rather than by chemically altering the natural hair color. A further advantage encountered with the use of wigs is the fact that they provide a woman with a great variety of hair styles without the bother of changing her natural hair style.

Unfortunately, several difficulties have been encountered with the use of present wigs. Among these are the fact that on certain women it is particularly difficult to obtain a proper fit. This is due to the fact that the base of some wigs are not sufficiently elastic to permit any size head to be accommodatingly received.

A further disadvantage encountered with the use of wigs wherein the base is formed of a continuous contoured sheet of netting is the fact that these wigs are uncomfortable because of natural air circulation on the users scalp is inhibited.

Other wigs which include various gripping means for retaining the base thereof in contact with the users head apply pressure to the users head and thus the users are unable to wear 7 the wigs for extended periods of time without resulting headaches. Another difficulty encountered with present-wigs is the fact that the wig linings or bases were so constructed that the users hair must be carefully separated and placed so as to produce an even distribution along the users head before the wig may be donned. Otherwise, unnatural protrusions resulted on the wig.

It is an object of the present invention to produce a wig construction wherein the foregoing disadvantages are eliminated.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce a wig which is light in weight, easily donned, yet can be constructed by mass production methods at a cost appreciably less than prior devices designed to serve the same function.

A still further object of the present invention is to produce a wig wherein the base thereof includes with a plurality of both elastic and inelastic strips thereby permitting the base to resiliently engage and accommodate a users head without producing uncomfortable pressures upon the users head.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a wig including a base formed of spaced strips of both elastic and inelastic material with the elastic strips yieldingly accommodating a bunching of natural hair.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a wig including a base constructed of both elastic and inelastic strips and wherein the strips are divided in two series with the strips of one series intersecting the strips of another series and wherein the user is permitted to puli strands of natural hair through spaces formed between the intersecting strips so that the wig hair may be mixed with natural hair.

Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown some of the various possible embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary pictorial illustration of a woman wearing a wig constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the undersurface of a base to which wefts of hair strands of the wig are secured and including a netting along with two series of strips extending substantially between portions of the netting;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and illustrating intersecting portions of a strip of one series with strips of another series and with the strips of the other series anchored to a further strip which joins spaced tips of the netting;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the strips in one series of strips and showing wefts of aligned strands of hair sewn to these strips, additionally shown is a strip of the other series of strips intersecting the first mentioned strips and with the latter strip being formed of an elastic material;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the top surface of the wig and showing a weft of aligned strands of hair sewn along one of the strips and extending beyond the terminal end thereof and on the netting;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the base of the wig and showing the strips along with the netting but omitting the wefts of hair secured to the base;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the undersurface of a base of a wig constructed in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a further plan view of the undersurface of a base constructed in accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral l0 denotes a wig constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. The wig 10 includes a plurality of wefts 12 of aligned strands of hair which are sewn together. The wefts are in turn sewn to a base 14.

In accordance with the present invention, the base 14 is constructed of a shell of Cshaped netting 16. The netting 16 includes a front portion 18 and spaced curved leg portions 20. The front 18 is generally thicker than the legs 20 which extend from the front portion 18. The front 18 is thickened because it is desirable to have a relatively large area to which the wefts 12 are sewn at the front of the users head to give the impression of a thick head of hair and also to thus reduce the possibility of recognition of the fact that the user is wearing a wig.

The legs 20 are designed to extend around the side of the users head and at the tips 22 thereof a strip 24 of elastic material is secured so that the tips are effectively joined. It should be noted that when the wig is donned, the elastic strip 24 will tend to pull the legs 20 together'and thereby assures that the netting 16 engages the users head. It should also be noted that the strip 24 is constructed of an elastic material which will not produce sufficient tensile forces when deformed by being placed upon the users head to render a discomfort to the user.

From an observation of FIG. 2 it will be seen that because the legs 20 are Cshaped netting I6 are joined by the strip 24, the base is peripherally encircled by an elliptical member 25 formed by the netting I6 and the strip 24.

To further assist in donning the wig, an ear 26 projects substantially radially from the approximate midlength of each leg 20. The ears 26 are formed of the netting I6 and are accordingly used as a surface to which wefts 12 are sewn. The ears 26 provide sufficient finger gripping surfaces whereby the legs 20 may be pulled downwardly alongside the user's head.

The base 14 includes a matrix of intersecting series of binding strips with the strips being divided into a first and second series with the strips of each series intersecting the strips of the other series and extending between opposite edges of the elliptical member 25.

The first series of strips 28 lie in substantially parallel planes (see FIG. 6) which planes are perpendicular to the major axis of the elliptical member 25. The strips 28 extend substantially between the opposed legs 20.

It will be observed that in the plan view of FIG. 2 the forwardmost strips 28 appear curved. This is due to the fact that the view is slightly distorted because the base 14 is substantially flattened in this view. The normal position of the strips 28 is better shown in the elevational view of FIG. 6.

Each of the strips 28 is formed of an inelastic material such as a cotton or synthetic fabric binding, and is secured to the legs 20 as by stitching 30. It will be noted from an observation of FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 that the stitching 30 additionally joins an elongate weft 12 to the strip 28 and to the adjacent portion of the netting 16. In fact, the stitching 30 extends from a peripheral edge portion of the netting l6 and thence completely along the length of a strip 28 to terminate at a point adjacent the peripheral edge of the opposite leg 20 of the netting 16.

Thus each of the strips 28 are joined to the legs 20 adjacent the opposite ends of each strip 28 and simultaneously with the joining operation the wefts 12 are sewn to both the strips 28 and the leg portions 20 of the netting 16.

A second series of strips 32 extends substantially from the front 18 of the netting to the strip 24 at the opposite end of the elliptical member 25. Each of the strips 32 in the second series of strips lies substantially within a plane which includes the major axis of the elliptical member 25. It should also be noted that the strips 32 are formed of an elastic material and are readily deformable but are capable of resiliently resuming their original shape.

At the intersection of each of the strips 32 with a strip 28 the strips are commonly joined by the stitching 30 which is applied subsequent to the positioning of the strips 32.

It will be observed that the elastic strips 32 resiliently permit the strips 28 lying within parallel planes to move relatively to one another. Thus the distance between one strip 28 and an adjacent strip 28 may be varied in accordance with the proportions and dimensions of the user's head.

Furthermore, the deformation of the strips 32 and subsequent movement of the strips 28 will facilitate the grouping of the users natural hair in bunches because the contour of the matrix formed by the intersecting strips 32, 28 will accordingly conform to the basic shape of not only the users head but any groupings or bunchings of the users natural hair.

Wefts 12 of hair are also sewn to the netting 16 along portions thereof distant from the strips 28. The wefts 12 may be sewn in any conventional manner such as in a spiral pattern of stitches 34. Additionally a peripheral weft circumscribes the elliptical member 25 and is secured along the netting 16 and the strip 24 as by stitching 35.

It will be appreciated that the wig base 14 will accommodatingly receive a users head and natural hair and furthermore a streaking or blending effect of the wig and natural hair may be easily produced. Such streaking effect will result if selected strands of the users natural hair are pulled through these spaces in any conventional manner. One possible device useful for pulling the natural hair through the spaces would be a hook member such as a crochet needle. Altemately, the user may use a finger to pull the natural hair.

An alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, a wig is formed with a base 140 (the underside of which is shown in FIG. 7). The base 14a includes netting 16a shaped in a C configuration with a pair of legs 20a extending from a front portion 180 and the tips 22a of which are joined by an elastic strip 240. The netting 16a and strip 240 thus form an elliptical member 25a.

A first series of inelastic strips 28a extend between the legs 20a lying within parallel planes. The planes perpendicularly intersect the major axis of the elliptical member 25a. A second series of strips 32a extend between the front 18a and the strip 240 and lie in planes passing through the major axis of the elliptical member 25a. This embodiment is distinguished from the embodiment previously disclosed, however, in several aspects.

Initially, it should be noted that the strips 32a are formed of an inelastic material, e.g., a cotton fabric binding as are the strips 280. Two strips 36 lie within planes parallel to the planes of the strips 28a and replace selected strips 28 of the previous embodiment. The strips 36a positioned adjacent the front 18a of the netting 16a and the strips 36 are formed on an elastic material.

The wefts of hair are sewn to the strips 28a, the netting 16a and the strips 36 in a manner identical to that of the previous embodiment. Furthermore, a peripheral weft is sewn about the netting 160 as well as the strip 24a in a manner identical to that of the previous embodiment. This embodiment is also distinguished from the previous embodiment because the ears 26 of the previous embodiment are omitted.

It should be noted that with the embodiment just described, the elastic strips 36 will permit a sufiicient amount of flexing of the base 14a to accommodate a bunch or bundle of the user's natural hair which is gathered at the forward portion of the user's head. The base 14a of this embodiment will also permit the user's natural hair to be pulled through spaces between the intersecting strips in a manner identical to that of the previous embodiment.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein a plan view of the undersurfaoe of a base 14b is illustrated. This embodiment is quite similar to the embodiment previously described having the base and includes a shell of C-shaped netting 16b having a front 18b, a pair of legs 20b, and an elastic strap 24b joining tips 22b of the legs 20b.

A first series of inelastic strips 28b extends between the legs 20b and lie within parallel planes which planes are perpendicular to the major axis of an elliptical member 25b formed by the netting 16b and the elastic strip 24b.

A second series of inelastic strips 32b extend between the front 18b and the elastic strip 24b and lie within planes which substantially include the major axis of the elliptical member 25b.

In this embodiment, however, a group of the series strips 28b adjacent the elastic strap 24b (andhencethe rear of the wig) are cut intermediate their ends and extend only between a leg 20b and a strip 32b adjacent each leg 2012. An elastic joining member 38 is positioned between the cut ends of the strips. Because of the joining members 38, it will be appreciated that the effective length of the cut strips may be varied.

Wefts of hair are sewn to the strips 28b in a manner identi: cal to that previously described with reference to the previous embodiments and includes stitching which not only joins the strips 28b to the netting 16b but also joins the wefts to the base 14b.

Stitching extends along the full length of the broken or cut strips to thus join not only the elastic joining members 38 to the cut ends of the strips 28b but also to secure the joining members 38 to the strips 32b of the second series. The stitching also secures a weft along the length of the elastic joining member 38.

It will be observed that with the elastic joining member 38 so positioned, an area adjacent the rear of the wig is easily deformable and may thus accommodate a bunch or bundle of the users natural hair without visibly indicating that the users natural hair is so bunched beneath the base of the wig.

Thus it will be seen that there is provided a wig of the general character described which achieves the various objects of the invention and which is well suited to meet the conditions of practical use.

Iclaim:

1. A wig, said wig including a base, the base comprising an elliptical member, the elliptical member including a C-shaped shell formed of netting and an elastic strip, the C-shaped member including opposed legs, having tips at the ends thereof, the elastic strip joining the tips of the legs, the base further including a first series of strips, each of the strips in the first series extending between the legs and lying within the parallel planes, the parallel planes being perpendicular to the major axis of the elliptical member, a second series of strips,

the second series of strips extending between opposed leg portions of the elliptical member and intersecting strips of the first series, each strip of the second series of strips lying substantiaily within a plane which includes the major axis of the elliptical member, the wig further including wefts of aligned strands of hair, each weft having a base, the wefts being secured to the netting and the strips of the first group of strips adjacent their bases, means elastically varying the effective length of one of the strips in one of the series whereby the base of the wig may yieldingly accommodate heads of various shapes and contours without exerting undue pressure upon the users head and while providing a resilient mounting arrangement securing the wig to the users head, a plurality of strips in the second series being formed of elastic material, and spaces being provided intermediate the intersecting strips of each group of strips, whereby selected strands of the users natural hair may be pulled through the spaces and may be blended with the wefts of wig hair.

2. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means elastically varying the effective length of the one strip includes an elastic material, the elastic material forming a strip in the second series of strips.

3. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means elastically varying the effective length of the one strip includes an elastic material, the elastic material forming a selected strip in the first series of strips.

4. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 3, wherein a plurality of strips in the first series are formed of elastic material, the selected strips being adjacent one another.

5. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 4, wherein the netting includes a front portion, the selected strips being positioned adjacent the front portion, whereby the user may gather her natural hair adjacent the forward portion of her head with the wig base resiliently yielding to accommodate the natural hair.

6. A wig constricted in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means elastically varying the effective length of one of the strips includes an elastic material, the elastic material being positioned intermediate the ends of one of the strips of the first series of strips.

7. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 6, wherein the elastic material is positioned intermediate the ends of several strips of the first group of strips.

8. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein the legs include earlike protuberances, whereby the base may be gripped for donning manipulation. 

1. A wig, said wig including a base, the base comprising an elliptical member, the elliptical member including a C-shaped shell formed of netting and an elastic strip, the C-shaped member including opposed legs, having tips at the ends thereof, the elastic strip joining the tips of the legs, the base further including a first series of strips, each of the strips in the first series extending between the legs and lying within the parallel planes, the parallel planes being perpendicular to the major axis of the elliptical member, a second series of strips, the second series of strips extending between opposed leg portions of the elliptical member and intersecting strips of the first series, each strip of the second series of strips lying substantially within a plane which includes the major axis of the elliptical member, the wig further including wefts of aligned strands of hair, each weft having a base, the wefts being secured to the netting and the strips of the first group of strips adjacent their bases, means elastically varying the effective length of one of the strips in one of the series whereby the base of the wig may yieldingly accommodate heads of various shapes and contours without exerting undue pressure upon the user''s head and while providing a resilient mounting arrangement securing the wig to the user''s head, a plurality of strips in the second series being formed of elastic material, and spaces being provided intermediate the intersecting strips of each group of strips, whereby selected strands of the user''s natural hair may be pulled through the spaces and may be blended with the wefts of wig hair.
 2. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means elastically varying the effective length of the one strip includes an elastic material, the elastic material forming a strip in the second series of strips.
 3. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means elastically varying the effective length of the one strip includes an elastic material, the elastic material forming a selected strip in the first series of strips.
 4. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 3, wherein a plurality of strips in the first series are formed of elastic material, the selected strips being adjacent one another.
 5. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 4, wherein the netting includes a front portion, the selected strips being positioned adjacent the front portion, whereby the user may gather her natural hair adjacent the forward portion of her head with the wig base resiliently yielding to accommodate the natural hair.
 6. A wig constricted in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means elastically varying the effective length of one of the strips includes an elastic material, the elastic material being positioned intermediate the ends of one of the strips of the first series of strips.
 7. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 6, wherein the elastic material is positionEd intermediate the ends of several strips of the first group of strips.
 8. A wig constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein the legs include earlike protuberances, whereby the base may be gripped for donning manipulation. 